Weather was the most common subject to break the ice when addressing strangers or even at business meetings, said the report.

Older people spoke more about the weather, often believing they could predict whether it would rain or be sunny by using old wives' tales such as cows sitting down or seeing a red sky at night.

Paula Llewellyn, head of marketing services at Lloyds TSB Insurance, said: "These findings prove that we really are a nation obsessed by our climate, with our unusually cold winter fuelling millions of conversations around the country."

The research was released as the insurer launched its weather photographer of the year competition.